Read more about the article New Developments for MBTs: Dutch LEOPARD 2 A6 MBTs to Join eFP
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New Developments for MBTs: Dutch LEOPARD 2 A6 MBTs to Join eFP

The latest events in the field of international security have led to a demand for an increase in the development of tools and weapons used in defence. After 2014, when Russia started the Crimean War, both NATO and the EU reviewed the need to expand their heavy armament component. In this sense, a particular focus has been directed to the category of Main Battle Tanks (MBTs). However, the growing demand for MBTs goes hand in hand with relentless technological development. Currently, to be truly effective, a squadron of tanks must meet certain characteristics and standards on active protection systems, vetronics and optronics, and automation (Marrone et al, 1, 2020). However, these standards are currently impossible to meet on a European level. Currently, the European armies possess a squadron of MBTs inadequate to deal with present conflicts. Moreover, the availability of MBTs is minimal and insufficient. This, in turn, makes the EU a fragile target from the perspective of heavy weapons (Hoffmann, 2010).

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30 September 2021
Read more about the article Possibile Effects of the AUKUS Trilateral Pact on European Security and Defence Cooperation
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Possibile Effects of the AUKUS Trilateral Pact on European Security and Defence Cooperation

On the 15th of September, the heads of state of the US, UK, and Australia announced the inauguration of a new trilateral naval defence pact covering the Indo-Pacific region. This pact, known as Aukus, involves cooperation in a number of fields. The US and UK will share military and cyber intelligence and quantum technology with Australia, and they will also assist in its pursuit of cruise missiles and greater AI capabilities. More crucially, however, the pact will involve the two NATO members sharing technology, consultation, manpower, and resources for Australia to build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

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30 September 2021
Read more about the article Post-Merkel Europe: A New Strategic Playbook for Brussels?
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Post-Merkel Europe: A New Strategic Playbook for Brussels?

While the Bundestag’s elections are ending Merkel’s legacy, they symbolise a new era for Brussels. For 16 years, Angela Merkel’s doctrine has been defending the “European unity” and balancing the European and Atlantic security policies (Buras & Puglerin, 2021). In the wake of heated geopolitical tensions, the future Berlin’s government will be expected to take on more responsibility to defend European interests. Given the rising strategic powers of Moscow and Beijing, and the shrinking of Washington’s presence on European soil, Brussels’ shift from “the responsibility to protect” to “the responsibility to act” is needed more than ever (Puglerin, 2021). On that note, this Info Flash raises the question of whether post-Merkel’s Berlin will deepen the EU’s security role, given Germany’s culture of restraint?

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24 September 2021
Read more about the article Refusing Vaccines: A Possible Motive of Denial for Participation in Military Activities
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Refusing Vaccines: A Possible Motive of Denial for Participation in Military Activities

One of the main practices undertaken by various states in the ongoing fight against the spread of Covid-19 is massive vaccination campaigns targeting workers and professionals, such as teaching and medical personnel. In some instances, this course of action has been coupled with negative repercussions for workers who refuse to get vaccinated. For example, in March 2021, the Italian government imposed a vaccination obligation on all healthcare personnel, with a suspension of pay for any worker refusing to be vaccinated (Amante, 2021). Similarly, in July 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a measure setting 15 September as the date after which unvaccinated healthcare workers in France could be suspended without receiving their salary (Ficek & de Comarmond, 2021).

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23 September 2021
Read more about the article The EU and its Maritime Security Strategy in the Indo-Pacific
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The EU and its Maritime Security Strategy in the Indo-Pacific

During its meeting on 24th June 2014, the Council of the European Union (EU) adopted the document, proposed by the Greek Presidency, concerning the European Union Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS), which lays out the framework for operations aimed at effectively facing the challenges related to maritime transport security. The EUMSS Action Plan was adopted on 16th December 2017 to safeguard the EU's interests and protect its member states (MS) and citizens. This plan addresses risks and threats in the global maritime domain, including organised and cross-border crime, threats to freedom of navigation, threats to biodiversity, unregulated fishing, or environmental degradation due to illegal or accidental discharges.

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21 September 2021